Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-04-14
The committee who have been inyestieat.

The committee who have been investigat-
Ing the graveyard insurance companies
have made some very remarkable discov-
cries, Senator German found that three
| policies had been taken out by one man
| upon the life of his mother; Stenographer
Haynes found two policies upon the life
OF his mother-in-law. In both cases specu-
lative neighbors had made the investment
! without having insurable interests. The
committee have visited Jackson. Hillsdale,
| Reading, Benton Arbor, Battle Greek,
Sturgis, Hastings, Owosso, Grand Rapids,
Detroit, and one or two other places.
| They found in some cases a nefarious sys.
tenn OF working up policies on the lives of
| aged people, the motive unlawful and the
| method downright fraud. They also found
some honestly conducted companies but
find that a reform in the law is needed TO
prevent trafiicking in human lives and base
deception toward the living.
The joint resolution requiring all citizens
to be capape of reading the English Ian
guage after the year 1900, was defeated in
the house.
Gov. Luce sent his first vetoes to the
legislature the other day. One was the
veto Of the bill to incorporate Marine
City, and the other to require the publica-
ton of the proceedings Of boards Of super
visors. The governor says the law at
present calls for the publication of re-
ceipts and expenditures and treasu ,er's
statements, and does not prohibit full
publication IL the supervisors with. He
believes 1t better to leave the matter as it
Is. and that the present bill il unwise and
not called for by the public interests.
The bill for the purchase of land at the
Traverse City asylum, which passed the
house just before the election vacation
without any explanation, has been ordered
recalled The land in question belongs to
Perry Hannah and partners. When the
asylum was established it was thought
that IL would be proper thing for Trav-'
err localities for the location of the asylum
in their midst, TO donate il to the state
TO make the offered grounds symmetrical
in shape. IL was not donated, but Han
nah q Co. offered to sell it to the
state. As Mr.. Hannah was trustee Oft
the asylum 1t was unlawful for him to
make a conveyance of the land. He, there
fore applied to the legislature for an en-
abling act, so that he might convey his
right in the land to the asylum. The legis-
lature refused to pass such an act
the comment being that Mr.
Hannah might resign from the board of
trustees and let new member be appoint
ed. In that case it might not be found
necessary for the asylum to have the tract
in question, and II IL was necessary Mr..
Hannah as private citizen, could convey
land to the trustees in a perfectly legal
manner. Two subsequent legislatures
to buy the Hannah tract. Its recall will
revive the whole history OF the affair
The house has finally passed the bill APP
pfopriating $1,000 CO compete the histori-
cal work begun by the semi-centennial
territorial and state history OF Michigan
and of the counties and biographies OF all,
the legislators judges and officials since
the organization of the state.
The fate of the amendment being ettled ,
the prohibitionists are preparing to make
their legislative campaign. Mr.. Chapman
of Hill dale, who had a prohibitory bill in
readiness modelled after the Kansas law,
which brings the off nder at once be
fore the circuit court, says he will
not press this measure. He thinks IL will
not he constitutional, az the property ,
right in liquor remains good. But If the
leaders OF the party, upon advice of law
yers think the bill should be amended and
put upon its passage he will call it up. Mr..
Chapman also has local option and high
license bill, copied from the law of Georgia
and the Ontario Scott act. This, he thinks,
will be pressed and he hopes succe ssfully.
He Is opposed to township and municipal
lines in the matter of local option and re.
grets that the counties are so small for
the purpose of passing upon the exclusionI
of Intoxicating liquor, and would gladly
control by superior power if it were pos
sible such counties as have expressed.
themselves against prohibition.
Harry Watson Of Montcalm, chairman
of the house committee on the liquor traf-
fic, interprets the vote on the 4th inst. in
favor of IA continuance of the present
liquor laws. and regards them if properly
enforced, as the very next best thing to;
prohibition; iDasmuch as they are capable
of being made in effect prohibitory in
communities that do not want the saloon
Many other members believe that there
should be no distinction in the tax on
beer and whisky. These members appre-
ciate the motive that made the distin ctIou
but say the weakness of human nature
is such that ninety per cent. of the saloon
keepers who pay taxes for beer sell
whisky, and the law must be made to
cover those who defraud the state by such
performan 'es. A considerable number of
members, those from cities included. ex-
press themselves as favorable to an equita-
BILE distribution of the liquor tax to the
county.
DETROIT MARKETS..